大方廣佛華嚴經疏 30.12

30.12

3. Distinguishing virtues and functions. First, it accomplishes the function of basis and support, serving as the support for all dharmas, because it is capable of upholding them. Second, it accomplishes the object of contemplation, meaning it serves as the object of realization and contemplation for the noble and holy; this too is merely one virtue among the hundred gates. The Awakening of Faith expounds three greatnesses: first is greatness of essence, because true suchness is equal, neither increasing nor decreasing; second is greatness of marks, because it is replete with immeasurable virtues of the nature; third is greatness of function, because it is able to produce all worldly and world-transcending wholesome causes and effects. Yet that text expounds the three greatnesses based on the mind, and true suchness is merely one of them; by using the one to unify the two, both belong to suchness. However, contravening truth is named evil, but upon tallying with suchness it is extinguished; conforming to truth is good, and according with suchness is great. In terms of the meaning of wholesome conformity, suchness is therefore said to be a wholesome cause. Yet although contravention and conformity differ, apart from suchness there is nothing that could be contravened; hence evil also takes suchness as its essence. If reconciled with this sūtra: within the hundred gates, some are essence, some marks, some function, or some combined; in reality, each and every one pervades essence and the rest. Therefore, the hundred gates harmoniously interpenetrate noumenon and phenomena, rendering them layer upon layer without end, just like Indra's net.